The Top 5 French Presses Available: An In-Depth Review
A French press, also known as a cafetière or coffee press, is a popular manual coffee brewing device. It consists of a cylindrical beaker, usually made of glass or stainless steel, equipped with a metal filter that can be pressed down to separate the grounds from the brewed coffee.
French presses are beloved by coffee enthusiasts for producing a very rich, flavorful cup of coffee. The metal filter allows for more oils and sediment to pass through compared to paper filters, resulting in a fuller-bodied mouthfeel.
What Makes a French Press the Best Coffee Brewing Method
There are several key advantages that make a French press one of the best ways to brew coffee:
- Rich, robust flavor – The metal filter allows more coffee oils and microscopic grounds to be steeped into the water, producing a richer, more intense flavor.
- Total immersion brewing – The grounds are completely submerged in water, allowing thorough extraction.
- Greater control – You can adjust variables like brew time, water temperature, and coffee-to-water ratio.
- Easy to use – French presses are very simple manual brewers that don’t require electricity.
- Durable and portable – French presses are usually made of glass or stainless steel so they can withstand daily use and travel.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a French Press
When selecting a French press, keep the following factors in mind:
- Size – Consider both the number of cups you want to brew at once and whether you need a travel-friendly size.
- Material – Glass looks nice but is fragile. Stainless steel is very durable.
- Filtration – Multiple screens and a tight seal ensure no grounds escape into your cup.
- Ease of use – Choose a plunger that smoothly presses down and a beaker that pours cleanly.
- Bonus features – Some presses have double-wall insulation or come with extra filters.
The Top 5 French Presses of 2023
After extensive testing of the most popular French presses available on Amazon, we’ve selected our top 5 picks:
Bodum Chambord: Timeless and Reliable
The Bodum Chambord is a timeless French press made of durable borosilicate glass with a steel frame and heat-resistant handle. Its simple design hasn’t changed for decades because it just works.
Three parts make up the brewing system – the pot, the stainless steel filter, and the plunger. Hot water and coarse coffee grounds go into the pot. After four minutes, you slowly press the filter down, which keeps the grounds at the bottom as you pour.
The Bodum Chambord makes it easy to brew a great cup of coffee. It’s also affordable and comes in multiple sizes. Replacement parts are readily available too. For a classic French press that reliably brews coffee with rich flavor, the Chambord is perfect.
Bodum Brazil: Budget-Friendly and Durable
The Bodum Brazil French press has the same great 3-part brewing system as the Chambord but replaces the glass and steel with plastic and silicone. It’s lightweight, making it easy to grip and pour.
BPA-free plastic means the Brazil won’t shatter if dropped and it comes in fun, vibrant colors. The plunger moves smoothly without much effort. It also comes in both 12 and 34 oz sizes.
If you want a budget-friendly French press that’s durable and dishwasher safe, the Bodum Brazil is an excellent choice. The plastic body doesn’t retain heat as well but it will still brew a robust cup of coffee.
Flask by Ethoz: Easiest Brewing Method
The Flask French press by Ethoz stands out with its unique design focused entirely on simplicity. It has a built-in coffee scoop, self-stirring filter, and even auto ejects grounds after pressing.
Just add coffee and hot water, give it a few stirs, and press down when ready. The grounds get forced out the bottom so you don’t have to take anything apart after brewing. It’s all self-contained.
The Flask also keeps coffee hot for hours thanks to its double-wall stainless steel body. If you want French press coffee with zero hassle or cleanup, the Flask is worth the premium price.
Fellow Clara French Press: Stylish Design with Vacuum Insulation
The Fellow Clara French press combines unique style with innovative materials like a vacuum insulated, shatterproof carafe. It has a sleek matte black body with your choice of black, white, or walnut accented handle.
The Clara keeps coffee hot for hours without any fragile glass. Its 3-part stainless steel filter provides excellent filtration too. You get beautifully brewed coffee that stays at the perfect drinking temperature.
While expensive, the Fellow Clara looks gorgeous on any countertop. Performance matches its premium design – it brews rich French press coffee and keeps it hot for hours.
Espro P1: Perfect for Travel and On-the-Go
The Espro P1 travel French press lets you easily brew great coffee anywhere. Its insulated double-wall steel body is virtually indestructible while also regulating temperature.
It uses a unique dual filter system with extremely fine mesh that stops nearly all grounds from entering your cup. This results in French press flavor that’s grit-free.
Compact and lightweight, the Espro P1 fits easily in bags or suitcases. It makes up to 12 oz at once – the perfect amount for a large mug of coffee. If you want French press taste without the mess while traveling, the P1 is ideal.
Testing and Review Process
We rigorously tested over a dozen top-rated French presses to select the best options across various categories. Here is an overview of our evaluation process:
Criteria for Evaluating French Presses
- Brew Quality – Flavor clarity and texture; amount of sediment
- Ease of Use – Simple routine with few parts or motions
- Build Quality – Durability of materials; stability; insulation
- Cleanup – Effort needed to clean after brewing
- Value – Price relative to performance and quality
Comparison of the Top 5 French Presses
| Bodum Chambord | Bodum Brazil | Flask by Ethoz | Fellow Clara | Espro P1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brew Quality | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Ease of Use | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Good |
| Build Quality | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Cleanup | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Value | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
Conclusion
Final Thoughts on the Best French Presses of 2023
After extensive testing, our top overall pick for best French press is the Bodum Chambord. It offers excellent brew quality and value in a durable, reliable package.
For those on a budget, we highly recommend the plastic Bodum Brazil French press. It’s affordable, easy to use, and nearly indestructible.
If convenience is key, the self-contained Flask by Ethoz requires no assembly and ejects grounds automatically with impressive results.
For keeping coffee hot for hours without fragile glass, the Fellow Clara looks gorgeous with its vacuum sealed stainless steel carafe.
And the Espro P1 is perfectly designed for travel, camping, or small batches of French press with an exceptionally fine steel filter.
No matter your needs, one of these top 5 picks is sure to be your perfect French press companion for manual brewing.
